Historic Preservation in Juneau

Background

Location,Setting and Character
Southeastern Alaska, or the Panhandle, is one of five distinct
regions in Alaska including the Gulf area, the western region, the Interior, and the
Arctic. This large (42,000 square miles) and diverse region is composed of a narrow strip
of land along the mainland accompanied with a lacework of islands and peninsulas
stretching approximately 500 miles from Icy Bay, northwest of Yakutat, to Dixon Entrance
at the United States-Canada border beyond the southern tip of Prince of Wales Island.

The City and Borough of Juneaus maritime climate is mild in
comparison to other regions of Alaska because of the warming influence of the Japanese
Current. The inhabitants of this hospitable region were the Tlingit and Haida Indians who
established permanent villages and developed diverse and culturally rich societies. These
societies were greatly changed with the coming of European explorers in the 18th century.

Environment
The City and Borough of Juneau encompasses more than 3,250 square
miles within its boundaries. The CBJ is bounded on the west by Lynn Canal; on the east by
the Canadian border; on the south by Point Coke; and on the north by the Haines Borough.
About 90 percent of the total area of the borough consists of water or rugged mountains
and glacial ice caps located within the Tongass National Forest.

The bulk of the CBJ land mass is located on the mainland. Numerous
islands, the largest being Douglas Island, are located along the coastal areas and three
major inlets penetrate the mainland area (Berners Bay, Taku Inlet, Port
Snettisham). The coastal mountain range within the CBJ rises dramatically from the water line to
elevations approaching 4,000 feet. The primary forest cover from the shoreline to alpine
regions is Sitka Spruce and Hemlock.

Pre-History
The exact route of the first people that emigrated into Southeast
Alaska and who these people were is not known at this time. 12,000 to 14,000 years ago the
sea level was about 300 feet lower than now. This was caused by the glaciers of the
Wisconsin glaciation locking up the available water and lowering world wide sea level. A
sea level drop of 300 feet exposes a land bridge between Russia and Alaska that is 1,000
miles across. There are two main theories about the migration of people into North America
across the Bering Land Bridge. The first theory is that people crossed from Asia into
central Alaska and then followed an unglaciated area between two great continental
glaciers through Canada into the unglaciated areas of North and South America. The second
theory is that with the lowered sea level the migrants were able to come down the exposed
continental shelf and enter the unglaciated areas. It is probable that both routes were
used for the migration into the Americas.

There is archaeological evidence that people lived in Southeast Alaska
for at least the last 10,000 years. The people that inhabited the region had a hunting and
gathering subsistence lifestyle. They must have used some sort of watercraft for
transportation because in addition to living on the mainland they also inhabited the
islands of the Alexander Archipelago. Food remains at some of the early sites show a focus
on bottom dwelling fish which also indicates the use of watercraft. Long distance trade in
resources is shown by finding obsidian at two of the oldest archaeological sites in
northern Southeast Alaska. The obsidian came from Mount Edziza up the Stikine River in
British Columbia and Sumez Island west of Prince of Wales Island.

Archaeologists have divided the human occupation of Southeast Alaska
into three time periods or stages. The earliest time period begins when people first came
to this area approximately 10,000 years ago and is called the Paleomarine Tradition. These
earliest peoples lived in small groups, traveled in boats, and subsisted on the coastal
resources, such as clams, mussels, and sea mammals. They probably harvested the plants of
both the inner tidal zone and the land, but evidence for this is not preserved in the
archaeological record. This stage lasted for 3,000 to 3,500 years and is followed by the
Transitional Period. With the beginning of this stage there is a change in tool technology
in both the types made and techniques for making them. The same subsistence resources are
utilized in this time period. The Transitional Period lasted from about 7,000 years ago
until 5,000 years ago when the period called Developmental Northwest Coast Traditions
begins. During this time period there is a continued trend to more complex tool types made
of ground stone and bone. There is also evidence of increased settlement sizes. By 3,500
years ago, there is a change marked by specialized subsistence camps with the introduction
of large scale salmon harvesting with fish traps and large shell midden. It is thought by
some archaeologists that this increased use of salmon contributed to the development of
the social structure of the coastal peoples. There is a change over time toward
establishment of permanent villages with larger wooden houses which featured carved wood
house posts and wooden floors. The Developmental Northwest Coast Traditions stage lasted
from 5,000 years ago until 250 years ago and the coming of the European explorers.

Native Culture
At the time of European contact the Natives who lived in Southeast
Alaska were the Tlingit and the Haida peoples. The Haida were located in southwestern part
of Southeast Alaska across Dixon Entrance from Queen Charlotte Islands. Their migration
into Southeast Alaska happened in the early eighteenth century when they displaced the
established Tlingit people on the southern half of Prince of Wales Island and the adjacent
islands to the west. The rest of Southeast Alaska was inhabited by Tlingit. Just when the
Tlingit came to this area is not known. It is known that the Developmental Northwest Coast
Traditions stage had been established in Southeast Alaska for the last 4,000 to 5,000
years. Madonna Moss states in a 1989 article that, "Although the 3,000+ year old
weirs cannot be linked directly to the historic Tlingit, we believe the hypothesis that
Tlingit culture developed in situ over a period of several thousand years should be
considered." The length of time that the Tlingit have lived in Southeast Alaska is a
question that further archaeological work.

The oral history of some Tlingit clans suggests that their origins are
from interior British Columbia. The Gaanax.a'di and Kaagwaantaan have
origin stories about the Nass and Skeena rivers. From there they moved north, taking their
clan names from the places they settled. The Dakl'aweidi and the Wooshkeetan oral history
states that they came into this area by traveling down the Stikine and Taku rivers,
respectively. After arriving on the coast they then spread north, south, and west. Some
oral history mentions that when the Tlingit came to the coast that it was already
inhabited and these people were either absorbed or pushed out. According to the oral
history of the Kaach.a'di they originated locally in central Southeast Alaska.

The Tlingit that inhabited the area that is now the City and Borough of
Juneau at the time of the first European contact were the Auk, Taku, and Sumdum peoples.
It is unclear how many people lived in these groups or how long they lived in this area.
In 1967 an Auk by the name of Phillip Joseph wrote an article about the history of the Auk
people for the New Alaskan magazine. In this article he suggests that the Auks have
been in the Auke Bay area for approximately 400 years. The 1880 census lists three
villages for the Auks. They were located on Admiralty Island at Youngs Bay, on Douglas
Island possibly at Fish Creek, and on the mainland north of Auke Bay at what is now the
Auke Village Recreation Area. This last site was the main winter village for the Auk. From
this central location the clans dispersed to their subsistence areas through out the Auk
territory during the spring, summer, and fall. The earliest written reference to the Auks
was in Vancouvers journal of his voyage to Alaska in 1794 when members of his crew
reported seeing campfire smoke coming from the village near Auke Bay. The village near
Auke Bay was the primary Auk village until the 1880's when most of the people moved to the
area of Gold Creek to work for wages as diggers, carriers, and wood cutters for the miners
that had moved to Juneau.

There is not as much information about the Taku and Sumdum peoples as
the Auk. In some references they are combined into one group and in others they are
separated into two. According to Goldschmidt and Haas in Possessory Rights of the
Natives of Southeast Alaska they are listed as being one group. Emmons in the book The
Tlingit list them as two separate groups. For this discussion they will be listed as
two separate groups. The main village of the Taku people was located up the Taku River in
what is now Canada. From this main winter village they dispersed to their clan subsistence
areas during the spring, summer, and fall. In the early 1840's the Hudson's Bay Company
established a trading post called Fort Durham in Taku Harbor. This fort was built to take
advantage of the trade route up and down the Taku River. With the establishment of the
fort the Taku people abandoned their traditional winter village and moved to the area of
the fort. The fort was abandoned as unprofitable by 1843. The Taku people stayed in the
area of the fort until 1880 when gold was discovered in Juneau. The Taku people then moved
to the area around Sheep Creek to work with the miners for wages. The Sumdum people had
their main winter village in the area of Holkum Bay below the Sumdum Glacier. There is
little information about these people other than by 1931 there were no natives living in
that area and according to Goldschmidt and Haas there was no one from that village left
alive by 1946.

History
In 1725 the Russian Czar, Peter the Great, sent Vitus Bering and
Alexei Chirikof to explore the North Pacific. On their second voyage in 1741 their two
ships became separated. Chirikof first viewed Alaska on July 15 and Bering viewed Alaska
two days later. In 1743, the Russians began concentrated hunting of sea otter pelts.
Though the French, Spanish, and British explored the region, their presence was not as
great as that of their Russian counterparts who, in 1784, established a settlement at
Three Saints Bay on Kodiak Island. In 1808, Alexander Baranof, governor of Russian
America, moved his headquarters from Kodiak to Sitka in Southeast Alaska.

There appears to be no evidence that the Russian explorers were in the
Juneau area but they probably passed through the area as there was a fort established in
1833 on the present site of Wrangell. It is likely that the Gastineau Channel was choked
with icebergs as it was in later years when Captain George Vancouver explored the area.
Vancouver was heading north in 1794 to Cook Inlet and Prince William Sound then worked his
way south through the area of Juneau. Although he was unable to pass through Gastineau
Channel did sail around Douglas Island enough to confirm it to be an Island. He named the
island for John Douglas, Bishop of Salisbury.

In 1867 the United States purchased Alaska from Russia for the bargain
price of 7.2 million dollars. Alaska was virtually ignored by the federal government for
several decades. Fortune hunters did not ignore the area however, and gold was discovered
near Sitka in 1872. Rumors that gold existed in the northern section of Southeast around
the Gastineau Channel area aroused further interest.

Southeast Alaska was a region explored by Europeans because of the
possibility of great riches and eventually settled because these possibilities proved to
be true. The Russians came for fur and established an influence on the area. After the
United States purchased Alaska from Russia, prospectors searched for gold and found it in
many places throughout Southeast. Discoveries along the coast from Windum Bay to Berners
Bay led to the founding of Juneau. The success of the mining industry, from the late
1800's to the mid-1940's, and the transfer of Territorial government in 1900 to Juneau
fostered population growth in the area. When the large scale hard rock gold mining
activity ceased in 1944, the city continued to thrive as a center for Territorial
government. This population was composed not only of miners and government officials, but
of entrepreneurs, doctors, lawyers, and others that invariably arrive at the beginning of
a new town. As a result, neighborhoods such as working class Starr Hill, Casey Shattuck,
Telephone Hill, Chicken Ridge, and the Mendenhall Valley were established.

The Gastineau Channel area was the hunting and fishing grounds for
local Tlingit Indians in 1880 when prospectors were searching for gold in Southeast
Alaska. In Sitka, mining engineer George Pilz offered a reward of 100 blankets to any
Indian who could lead him to gold-bearing ore. When Cowee of the Auk Tlingit arrived with
ore samples from Gastineau Channel, Pilz grubstaked prospectors Richard T. Harris and
Joseph Juneau to investigate the lode.

Harris and Juneau reached Gastineau Channel in August 1880 and sampled
the gravel of Gold Creek. They found plenty of color, but did not follow the gold to its
source. At Cowee's urging, Pilz sent the pair back again. This time Harris and Juneau
climbed Snow Slide Gulch at the head of Gold Creek and located the mother lode of Quartz
Gulch and Silver Bow Basin. Their discovery led to the establishment of Juneau, the first
town founded in Alaska following the 1867 purchase from Russia. On October 18, they staked
a 160-acre town site. Their claim was entered into the record by Harris:

"This is to certify that R.T. Harris, Joseph Juneau, and N.A.
Fuller have this date recorded 160 acres for purposes of erecting a town site, commencing
at a point one mile above the mouth of Gold Creek and running up the coast one-half mile
and along the bay and anchorage right opposite Douglas Island, to be surveyed into 59 foot
lots running back 200 feet, Said town site named and styled Harrisburg. October 18, 1880.
R.T. Harris, Recorder."

Harrisburg, Rockwell, or Juneau as it eventually came to be known, was
situated on the shore of Gastineau Channel under the shadows of Mount Roberts and Mount
Juneau. A mining camp located on the beach, Juneau was composed of tents and cabins
constructed of trees which grew throughout the town site, and supplies and materials
brought from Sitka.

George Pilz shipped a pre-framed building from Sitka which became the
first structure in town. The building no longer exists. Development in the fledgling town
continued with the construction of the Log Cabin Church in 1881, the Northwest Trading
Company which was the first retail store in Harrisburg, and the military post Rockwell. In
March 1881, Master Gustave Carl Hanus, a Navy officer from Sitka, ran lines to formally
survey the new town which extended from the waterfront to a prominent ridge less than a
mile away. The ridge area was later called Chicken Ridge. By the end of 1881, the town had
a code of local laws, a Board of Public Safety, and a post office.

Construction proceeded at a steady pace. The downtown business district
developed almost immediately. Court House Hill, later known as Telephone Hill, and nearby
sections were quickly settled and as the population grew additional land was staked and
cleared. Scattered houses were constructed on the wooded hillsides northeast of the
business district. A Native village was established on the waterfront at the mouth of Gold
Creek near the current site of Willoughby Avenue. Cabins for miners began to appear on
Starr Hill, a working class residential area and by 1893, the area of Chicken Ridge was
being settled. In the nine years following the discovery of gold, Juneau's population grew
800 percent from 150 to more than 1,200.

Gold mining was the driving force behind this growth. At first the
creeks were placer mined. Then prospectors attempted to work the quartz veins by drilling
and blasting to break the gold-bearing quartz from the surrounding waste rock. Eventually,
the prospectors began to consolidate adjoining properties and attack the deposit of quartz
veins on a larger scale. By the 1890's, several of the small mining companies combined to
form larger operations and out of this came the Treadwell Group, the Alaska Gastineau
Mining Company, and the Alaska Juneau Gold Mining Company.

As mining grew and large companies expanded the workings, it became
apparent that Juneau would not be just another "boom and bust" gold camp.
Rather, it enjoyed a growing prosperity built in the mines, with their great mechanized
mills, and large payroll. The three large mines, the Treadwell, the Alaska Gastineau, and
the Alaska Juneau drove the economy. They became the largest gold producers of low grade
ore in the world, recovering more than $158 million from the mountain rock stamped to dust
in the huge mills.

The Treadwell closed in 1922, four years after three of its four
operating mines collapsed in a saltwater cave-in. Only a handful of ruins and remnants
remain of the Treadwell Complex which stretched for three miles down the coast line of
Douglas Island. A Treadwell hydroelectric power plant remains at Sheep Creek across
Gastineau Channel from the mine site. The Alaska Gastineau closed in 1921 after its gold
deposit became economically unviable to remove. A few ruins of the former mill and the
supervisors house remain on the hillside near Thane. An extant warehouse building
sits on the shore of Gastineau Channel.

The last of the large mines operating in the area was the Alaska Juneau
Gold Mine. It closed in 1944 due to a fixed gold price of $35 per ounce, high operating
costs, and a post war-related labor shortage. Ruins of the AJs ball mill lie on the
hillside above Juneau below the Mt. Roberts Tram. The Steam Power Plant is also
located in the area. The Jualpa Mine Camp, a division of the AJ mine is located in Last
Chance Basin. Extant buildings include the Locomotive Repair Shop, Compressor Building,
and Transformer House. Locomotives, rail cars, and rail lines also remain. The Compressor
Building houses the Last Chance Mining Museum and is the only historic mining building
open to the public.

For more than 60 years gold mining dominated the identity of Juneau and
influenced its growth. After the decline of the gold mines, the influx of government kept
Juneau's economy thriving. In 1900 the town had been incorporated and Juneau was
designated the temporary seat of government of the territory. By this time, it was a
thriving city with numerous wooden buildings lining the streets. Residential and
commercial areas had developed and there were nearly 2,000 inhabitants.

In 1900, the District Court moved from Sitka to Juneau and used rented
quarters until 1904 when a court house and jail were built at the site of the present
State Office Building. The executive offices moved from Sitka to Juneau in 1906. In 1912,
Alaska was granted Territorial status and the first territorial legislature was convened
at the Elks Club building in downtown which still houses the fraternal organization.
Mining activities slowed in the late 1930's and ceased with the closing of the AJ in 1944.
Territorial and federal government offices continued to grow in importance and replaced
the mining companies as the main economy of Juneau. Alaska became a state in 1959 and
Juneau the designated capital. The community continued a steady but slow growth through
the 1980's. The tourism industry began growing and in the early 1990's took on boom
proportions to become a vital factor in the local economy.\

Historic Themes and Property Types
The general categories of reference, pre-historic and historic, can
be further subdivided into time periods which represent eras of particular influence.
These eras typically have a unifying theme which relates to the historic activities and
development of an area. Various property types associated with the historic themes provide
tangible links to the past of an area.

Using themes and time periods identified in the State of Alaskas
Historic Preservation Plan as reference the following eras were defined for the historic
resources within the City and Borough of Juneau.

Table 1 - Historic Themes, Time Periods, and Property Types

Theme

Time Period

Property Types

Lifeways and Ethnicity - Tlingit Occupation

1000-1741 Late Prehistoric Era

Archaeological Sites

Population, Exploration, and Settlement - Discovery of Gold

1741-1867 Russian and Euroamerican Era

Historic and Archaeological Sites

Commerce and Economic Development - Early Gold Mining

1867-1912 Early American Era

Mining Sites and Ruins; Commercial and Residential Buildings; Institutional and Educational Buildings; Religious and Social Buildings

Historic Landscape and Architecture
The natural landscape of the CBJ plays as much a part of the
historic setting as the architecture. The townsite of Juneau is nestled between the
dramatically rising Mount Juneau and Mount Roberts, each soaring to 3,500 feet in
elevation. This steep mountain backdrop provides a visually dramatic setting for the
man-made environment of Juneau. The topography forced the construction of buildings which
appear to cling to the steep slopes. The situation has given Juneau a unique and
interesting architectural character.

The architecture of Juneau is reflective of the topography, climate,
availability of local materials, expense of shipping materials to Alaska, shortage of
skilled craftsmen, and the basic need for immediate shelter. Those who came to Juneau were
generally from Lower 48 continental states. They brought with them the architectural
styles of the day and constructed their buildings. Generally buildings were constructed
for practicability rather than fashion, thus they became modest interpretations of
national stylistic trends. The basic forms were reflective of the popular styles but the
details and ornamentation were lacking, usually limited by the economic resources of the
individual owner.

Construction materials were primarily wood with some poured concrete
showing up in the mid 1900's with the advent of higher engineering technology brought on
by the mining companies. Fortunately, the downtown district has never suffered a major
fire. For this fact the downtown looks much like it did historically with a mix of early
western style false front buildings, as well as building styles commonly found in the
continental states including Queen Anne, Art Deco, and Art Moderne. Adjacent to the
downtown business district but within the original townsite is a mix of residential and
commercial buildings of various styles. Some of the citys best examples of Queen
Anne residential architecture are found in this neighborhood. Other residential styles
include Craftsman, Shingle, Colonial Revival, and Prairie School. Commercial styles
include Art Deco and the International Style. An example of religious architecture is the
Saint Nicholas Orthodox Church which is of the Octagon Mode.

The neighborhoods surrounding the original Juneau townsite are
reflective of the socioeconomic character of its historic residents. Chicken Ridge, the
neighborhood of doctors, lawyers, business leaders, and top mining personnel, features
larger more ornate representations of the popular styles. The neighborhood is
predominately Craftsman style with one being identified as a Gustav Stickley home. Other
styles include Colonial and Tudor Revivals, Prairie School, and Queen Anne.

The Starr Hill neighborhood historically housed the blue collar workers
of the community. The homes are generally smaller Craftsman Style constructed of wood with
sparse detailing. Many were constructed from the same plan such as the Fries Miners
Cabins on Kennedy Street. Similar building styles are evident along Gastineau Avenue which
extends to the east of Starr Hill.

The Casey Shattuck area was subdivided into small residential lots in
1913. The residential buildings of this neighborhood have not been surveyed but appear to
be predominately Craftsman Style. They are generally smaller in size and mostly 1, 1-1/2
or 2 story wood frame structures. The unique feature of the Casey Shattuck neighborhood is
that it is relatively level ground compared to the other neighborhoods of Juneau. This
allowed a typical grid layout of the streets and alleys.

The City of Douglas, located on Douglas Island across Gastineau Channel
from Juneau, suffered three great fires. The result of these fires is that very few
historic buildings remain from the original town. The last fire was in 1937 therefore the
homes and businesses that rebuilt now qualify as historic but the old false front downtown
district has vanished. Socioeconomically Douglas was a blue collar worker community with
most residents being employed by the mines. Of the residential buildings which survived
the fires most were Craftsman Style. The most prominent historic building in Douglas is
the Mayflower School which is of the Colonial Revival style. It was built in 1934 by the
Office of Indian Affairs as a Native school.

Until the closure of the Treadwell mines, Douglas and Juneau were
thriving independent communities with commercial and residential buildings as well as
churches, schools, hospitals, cemeteries, and recreation areas. Although the architecture
of Juneau is modest in detailing, the composition of the neighborhoods into the unique
topography provides a visually exciting context to the community. The majority of original
buildings in the historic parts of town have been lovingly maintained by their owners
which results in a pleasing character reminiscent of early days.

With increased population spurred by statehood in 1959, the outlying
areas of Juneau proper began to be developed. The Mendenhall Valley became suburbanized in
similar fashion as other American cities. Weekend cabins at Auke Bay, Lena Point, Tee
Harbor and along the road became permanent residences as Glacier Highway provided a
transportation link to downtown Juneau. Very little survey work has been done in these
areas of Juneau. Two of the more notable post WWII buildings constructed in Juneau include
the Mendenhall Glacier Visitor Center (1962) and the State Office Building (1965).

Historic and Cultural Resources
Much of Juneaus land area is beyond the area of the urban
settlement. While some archaeological investigations have taken place in the outlying
areas, most of the resource inventory work has taken place in the urbanized areas of
Juneau and Douglas.

In addition to the historic resources inventory managed by the
Community Development Department (CDD), the CBJ owns two community museums. The Juneau
Douglas City Museum is operated by the CBJ, while the Last Chance Mining Museum is
operated by the non-profit Gastineau Channel Historical Society. The CBJ has no official
historic records archive system although the City Museum collection does contain some
historic archival material.

In 1986 a listing of 205 historic sites and structures was prepared by
CDD. The "Inventory of Historic Sites and Structures" provided a comprehensive
list of the historic resources within the boundaries of the CBJ known at that time. Since
then numerous inventory and survey projects have taken place which have added
significantly to the resource base. Approximately 452 historic buildings, sites, and
structures are listed in Appendix D.

Probably the most significant aspect of the 1986 inventory document was
the development of the historic neighborhood concept. The concept was to divide the
borough into historic "neighborhoods" to put context to the resource inventory.
Eleven historic "neighborhoods" were defined based on the following factors:
"topography, architecture, association, and relationship of structures to each other
and their location." The identified historic neighborhoods were each given a letter
designation to coordinate with a CBJ historic resource numbering system. Appendix F
contains maps of each neighborhood. Following are the historic "neighborhoods"
and their letter designation:

Downtown Historic District

Juneau Townsite

Starr Hill

Telephone Hill

Chicken Ridge Historic District

Casey-Shattuck

Juneau Borough

Douglas Island

Tidelands

Indian Village

Gastineau Avenue

The more recent inventory and survey work has
added knowledge to the overall understanding of the historic and cultural resources within
the boundaries of the CBJ. The following is a synopsis of the work to date for each of the
identified historic neighborhoods.

Downtown Historic District - The most recent inventory and survey work for the district
occurred in 1994 when the National Register Nomination was
completed. The district features 42 contributing historic buildings dating back to 1893.
There are 16 non-contributing buildings within the district. The Juneau Downtown Historic
District is listed on the National Register of Historic Places. The Alaskan Steam Laundry,
Alaskan Hotel, and Valentine Building, located in the Downtown Historic District are
listed individually on the National Register of Historic Places.

Juneau Townsite - Eighty-two (82) buildings were surveyed in the
original townsite area and forty were determined to have historic significance. The
Frances House, J.M. Davis House, and the St. Nicholas Orthodox Church, located in the
Juneau Townsite neighborhood, are listed individually on the National Register of Historic
Places.

Starr Hill - The only survey work in the Starr Hill neighborhood
was done for the 1986 citywide inventory. Forty-four buildings were identified as having
historic significance at that time. The Fries Miners Cabins Historic District,
located within the Starr Hill neighborhood, is listed on the National Register of Historic
Places. In addition to the historic district, the Bergman Hotel and the Church of the Holy
Trinity are listed individually on the National Register of Historic Places.

Telephone Hill - The most recent survey of the Telephone Hill
area was conducted in 1986. Since then two homes have been demolished. The 1986 survey
listed nine buildings which had been determined to have historic significance.

Chicken Ridge Historic District - In 1992 a major survey was
performed of the Chicken Ridge neighborhood. Based upon the findings of that survey a
nomination to the National Register was prepared. The period of significance for this
neighborhood dates from 1893 to 1939. Ninety-five buildings were surveyed and seventy-five
were found to meet the national criteria as contributing to the historic character of the
neighborhood. The Chicken Ridge Historic District is listed on the National Register of
Historic Places. In addition to the historic district, the Hammond-Wickersham House is
individually listed on the National Register of Historic Places.

Casey-Shattuck - Very little survey work has been completed in
the Casey-Shattuck neighborhood. The 1986 inventory document lists three historic
buildings and one site (Evergreen Cemetery). In 1994 a grant was sought to perform an
inventory and survey of the neighborhood. In the preliminary research work done for the
grant it was found that there was approximately 109 properties in the neighborhood. It was
estimated that about 75% or 82 would be considered historically significant.

Juneau Borough - The 1986 inventory document lists thirty-nine
historic sites and buildings that are within the borough but not in any of the
specifically identified neighborhoods. Between 1987 and 1991 a series of inventory,
survey, and structures reports were completed at the Jualpa Mine Camp of the Alaska Juneau
Gold Mine located in Last Chance Basin. In 1991 a survey was performed specifically of the
historic resources relating to the dairy farming activities in the Juneau area. Seven
historic buildings remained from that era and four were determined to be significant. In
1992 an inventory and survey of historic shipwreck sites was performed. The area was
limited to the boundaries of the City and Borough of Juneau prior to the annexation of the
Admiralty Island lands. Five major sinkings or groundings (Clara Nevada, Islander,
Princess May, Princess Sophia, Princess Kathleen) were included in the study.

Listings on the National Register of Historic Places within the
outlying areas of the borough include the Jualpa Mine Camp Historic District, Eldred Rock
Lighthouse (on the line between CBJ and Haines Borough), Ernest Gruening Cabin, and the
Fort Durham Site (Taku Harbor) which is designated a National Historic Landmark.

Douglas Island - The Douglas Island historic neighborhood
encompasses the entire island including the Douglas Townsite and Treadwell. The 1986
inventory include six historic sites on Douglas Island. In 1989 a survey was performed of
the original Douglas Townsite. Sixty-six buildings were surveyed and twenty-six were
identified to have historic significance.

In 1991 a survey of the Treadwell area was performed. The area was
primarily the residential area of the town of Treadwell just south of Douglas Townsite.
The work surveyed forty sites and buildings and found seventeen to be of historic
significance. In 1995 a survey and inventory was completed of the historic cemeteries of
Douglas. The survey confirmed 157 grave sites within ten individual cemeteries.

The only building listed on the National Register of Historic Places on
Douglas Island is the Mayflower School in Douglas. The CBJ Community Development
Department is currently preparing a multiple property nomination of the historic
cemeteries to the National Register of Historic Places.

Tidelands - Very little survey and inventory work has been done
in the Tidelands neighborhood. The 1986 inventory lists one historic building, the Pacific
Coastal Steamship Company, which is now the downtown cruise ship dock.

Indian Village - No survey work has been done for individual
buildings in the Indian Village. The 1986 inventory lists the Auk Village as a historic
site.

Gastineau Avenue - This neighborhood which overlooks the
downtown historic district has never been surveyed yet a number of historic buildings are
evident.

Multiple Property Resources - Some historic resources have
common themes, periods, and property types. These may exist in more than one historic
neighborhood throughout the city and borough. Examples of these include mining properties,
dairy farming properties, cemeteries, and maritime properties (shipwrecks and
lighthouses).

Preservation Efforts
The City and Borough of Juneaus overall historic preservation
effort is embodied in the Planning Division of the Community Development Department (CDD)
which targets the preservation of buildings, structures and sites as well as the outward
appearances of the Downtown Historic District. Through the comprehensive plan, downtown
historic district design standards, national register nominations, preservation
ordinances, and the documentation of historic buildings, the CDD integrates historic
preservation into the planning process.

The City and Borough of Juneau has a long standing commitment to
historic preservation dating back to the early 1970's. At that time the CBJ Assembly
passed an ordinance designating the remaining structures and surrounding area of the
Jualpa Mine Camp of the Alaska Juneau Gold Mining Company as the Last Chance Basin
Historic District. In 1976 the CBJ developed the Last Chance Mining Museum in the
Compressor Building of the Jualpa Mine Camp as a community museum. It operated until 1982
when planning began for a permanent downtown museum which opened in 1986 in the WWII
Veterans Memorial Building (former city library).

In the early 1980's the CBJ reconstructed the streets and sidewalks of
the historic downtown area when historic period light standards were installed. The
upgrading of the downtown encouraged many private building owners to renovate and restore
their historic buildings. In 1983 the CBJ Assembly adopted the boundaries of the Downtown
Historic District, developed historic district standards, and established the Design
Review Board to review projects in the district.

The Lewis Building was constructed in 1914. It housed the First National
Bank during early years. By the 1970's it had fallen in disrepair (below). Inspired
by major street improvements by the CBJ in the early 1980's the owners tried
to recapture the original character of the building (bottom) during the renovation
as a restaurant.

In 1988 the CBJ became a Certified Local Government (CLG). The CLG program, developed by the
National Park Service and administered by the State Office of History and Archaeology
provides assistance to local governments for historic preservation efforts. The Historic
Resources Advisory Committee was established by the CBJ to oversee the preservation
efforts and activities of the community and to perform the duties as described by the CLG
program. Numerous matching fund grants have been received through the CLG and its
predecessor program to survey and inventory historic resources, perform historic
preservation planning, develop structures reports, nominate resources to the National
Register of Historic Places, and "brick and mortar" projects. Juneau has also
been successful in securing historic preservation grants through the National Trust for
Historic Preservation and the State Division of Tourism.

In 1989 a Native fish trap, dating approximately 650 years old, was
found buried in the banks of Montana Creek near the confluence with the Mendenhall River.
This has proven to be one of the most significant archaeological discoveries in the Juneau
area. With a grant from the Sealaska Corporation, the CBJ Community Development Department
contracted with Jon Loring, Archaeologist, to remove the trap for conservation at the
Alaska State Museum. The Native community was consulted on the project and it was agreed
to develop interpretive material along a new park and trail system in the area of the
discovery which was being constructed by the Alaska Department of Transportation and CBJ
Parks and Recreation Department. The main trail in the system was given the Tlingit name
"Kaxdegoowu Heen Dei" which was chosen by the Native community as
it was the traditional place name for the confluence of Montana Creek and Mendenhall
River. The name translates to "clear water running back" and refers to the back
eddy created by the rivers meeting at this point.

In 1995 the CBJ entered into a use agreement with the Gastineau Channel
Historical Society to re-open the Last Chance Mining Museum. Through a series of three
federal Historic Preservation Fund Grants, administered through the Alaska State Office of
History and Archaeology, Society volunteers, in cooperation with the CBJ, began
stabilization efforts to the extant buildings of the Jualpa Mine Camp.

Preservation Program
The primary elements of Juneaus historic preservation program, as
administered by the Community Development Department, are its historic neighborhoods
concept, city leadership, public out-reach efforts, and economic development. See Appendix
C for a complete listing of the various preservation accomplishments coordinated by CDD.
The following discussion outlines these programs:

Historic Neighborhoods - The historic neighborhood concept was
selected by the CDD for its survey and inventory work in the city and borough. Because of
the size of the Juneau area and the unique characteristics that serve to define certain
portions of the community, the division into historic neighborhoods was implemented to
assist in data collection and documentation. Boundaries were established using the
criteria of geography, topography, historic development patterns, and groupings of
buildings with specific architectural style. Map C indicates the various historic
neighborhoods throughout the community.

City Leadership - The CBJ has set a positive example in the
community relative to the recognition of historic resources through the nomination of
properties to the National Register of Historic Places. City owned properties and
important historic areas have been nominated to the National Register by the city. The
Mayflower School in Douglas was placed on the National Register in 1988. The Jualpa Mine
Camp Historic District was placed on the register in 1994. Both of these properties are
owned by the CBJ.

The Downtown Historic District, Fries Miners Cabins Historic
District on Starr Hill, and the Chicken Ridge Historic District were nominated by the CBJ
and listed on the National Register for their importance in the early development of
Juneau. The contributing buildings in these districts retain the original historic
architectural character of the past and contribute to the livability and visual interest
of the community. A complete listing of the facilities listed on the National Register of
Historic Places in Juneau is contained in Appendix E.

The CBJ has taken a lead in the rehabilitation of its historic
buildings. In 1993 the Assembly approved the expenditure of funds to rehabilitate the
Mayflower School and lease it to the Montessori School. In 1995 the city authorized the
Gastineau Channel Historic Society to use volunteer labor for a CLG matching grant to do
restoration work on the Compressor Building of the historic Alaska Juneau Gold Mining
Company in Last Chance Basin. Subsequent grants in 1996 and 1997 continued the restoration
work to the Transformer House and Locomotive Repair Shop. The city also entered into a use
agreement with the Society to operate the Last Chance Mining Museum.

Public Out-Reach - The historic preservation activities of the
Community Development Department have been shared with the public in many ways. Historic
research publications are available at all CBJ libraries, the Juneau-Douglas City Museum,
and the CDD offices. In the past CBJ has acknowledged efforts by private citizens who
preserve their historic buildings by awarding certificates of recognition. The department
has sponsored the local celebration of National Historic Preservation Week through
presentations to civic and community groups, walking tours, fun runs, and a historic
building recognition contest held jointly with the Downtown Business Association. These
historic preservation activities were developed to build interest and to increase
awareness of the unique historical qualities of the community.

Economic Development - Historic preservation is a powerful tool
for economic development and support of the local visitor industry. The downtown street
improvements have encouraged private investment in the downtown historic district. Through
rehabilitation and restoration, buildings have been preserved to maintain their historic
architectural character. The charm of the downtown historic district and the surrounding
neighborhoods is an attraction which complements the tourist economy.

The Valentine Building was constructed on the corner of Seward and Front Streets in 1912 (above). By the
1970's the building had been modified by changing the clerestory windows and the addition
of a sidewalk canopy (below). In 1982 the owners performed an extensive restoration project
returning the building back to its original design including restoration of couferred ceilings inside
the first floor space (bottom).

Other Preservation Activities
Following are brief descriptions of preservation activities by
other entities of government or by private organizations in Juneau:

City Owned Museums - The CBJ owns two museums which interpret
the history of the community. The Juneau Douglas City Museum, operated by CBJ Parks and
Recreation Department, was established to collect, preserve, interpret, and make available
for research, materials which document the cultures and history of the Juneau Douglas
area, defined by the boundaries of the City and Borough of Juneau, and the 1906 USGS
Juneau Gold Belt. The City Museum is located on the corner of Fourth and Main Streets in
the former city library building which was constructed through community donations as a
memorial to WWII veterans.

The Last Chance Mining Museum, operated by the Gastineau Channel
Historical Society, interprets the mining history of Juneau in the historic Compressor
Building of the Alaska Juneau Gold Mining Company. The site, known as the Jualpa Mine Camp
Historic District, features the Compressor Building, Transformer House, Locomotive Repair
Shop, rails, cars and locomotives from the historic mining operations. The site is owned
by the CBJ.

Local Register of Historic Places - Recently the CBJ Assembly
officially designated a residential building in Juneau as having historic significance.
The basic criteria used for determining such a designation was the National Register of
Historic Places criteria. The Garside House was deemed to have historic and architectural
significance worthy of designation as a historically significant structure in the City and
Borough of Juneau. Such designation offers to the property owner some flexibility in
applying the local building code when certain restoration activities are engaged in.

There are other historic buildings within the CBJ which likely qualify
for such designation. This preservation plan recommends that an official list of
historically and architecturally significant buildings be established for Juneau.

Gastineau Channel Historical Society - This community based
non-profit organization promotes historic preservation through its various programs,
publications and activities. Most notably the Society operates the Last Chance Mining
Museum and has spent considerable volunteer efforts in the restoration of historic mining
buildings in Last Chance Basin.

Sealaska Heritage Foundation - This private non-profit
organization has various programs oriented toward the preservation of the Native cultures
of Southeast Alaska.

Alaska Department of Natural Resources - Parks Division - This
division of state government is the prime caretaker of three National Register buildings
in Juneau; the Governors Mansion, the House of Wickersham, and the Gruening Cabin.